NameCensus.

UK surname

Gatter

A topographic German surname derived from the word "Gatter," meaning fence or enclosure.

In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Gatter surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 111, ranked #29,049, down from #27,447 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Poole St James and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Trafford and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gatter is 116 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 152.3%.

1881 census count

44

Ranked #27,447

Modern count

111

2016, ranked #29,049

Peak year

2013

116 bearers

Map years

3

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gatter had 44 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,447 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016, ranked #29,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 112 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gatter surname distribution map

The map shows where the Gatter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Gatter surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gatter over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 56 #23,235
1861 historical 58 #26,585
1881 historical 44 #27,447
1891 historical 99 #24,200
1901 historical 82 #25,019
1911 historical 112 #21,274
1997 modern 93 #27,932
1998 modern 99 #27,785
1999 modern 105 #27,035
2000 modern 95 #28,441
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 98 #28,243
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 98 #28,297
2005 modern 100 #28,025
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 95 #29,822
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 102 #29,930
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 110 #29,157
2016 modern 111 #29,049

Geography

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Where Gatters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Poole St James, London parishes, St Leonard Bromley and Farringdon, Sowton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Trafford, Medway, Tewkesbury and Bridgend. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Leonard Bromley London (East Districts)
5 Farringdon, Sowton Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 017 East Devon
2 Trafford 001 Trafford
3 Medway 022 Medway
4 Tewkesbury 005 Tewkesbury
5 Bridgend 019 Bridgend

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gatter

These lists show first names that appear often with the Gatter surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gatter

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gatter, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Gatter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gatter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Gatter is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gatter is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gatter falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gatter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gatter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gatter

The surname Gatter has its origins in Germany, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the German word "gatter," which means a gate or a barrier. This could suggest that the name was originally given to someone who lived near a gate or worked as a gatekeeper.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in a document from the town of Nuremberg in 1294, which mentions a person named Johann Gatter. The surname also appears in records from other German regions, such as Bavaria and Saxony, during the late medieval period.

In the 16th century, the name Gatter began to spread beyond Germany as people emigrated to other parts of Europe. For instance, there are records of individuals with the surname Gatter living in the Netherlands and Belgium during this time.

The earliest recorded instance of the name in Britain dates back to the late 17th century, with a family of Gatters settling in the county of Yorkshire. One notable member of this family was William Gatter, born in 1698, who was a successful merchant and landowner.

Another prominent figure with the surname Gatter was Johann Friedrich Gatter, a German philosopher and theologian who lived from 1756 to 1825. He was known for his writings on ethics and moral philosophy.

In the 19th century, the name Gatter became more widespread across Europe and North America due to increased migration. One notable individual from this period was Heinrich Gatter, a German-American businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1818 to 1892. He founded the Gatter Brewing Company in St. Louis, Missouri, which became one of the largest breweries in the United States.

Other notable individuals with the surname Gatter include August Gatter, a German artist and painter who lived from 1856 to 1944, and Alvin Gatter, an American baseball player who played for the New York Giants in the 1920s.

While the surname Gatter is not as common as some other German surnames, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period in Germany. The name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, philosophers, artists, and athletes, across several centuries and continents.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gatter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gatter surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 14 Gatters recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.70x.

County Total Index
Surrey 14 6.70x
Dorset 9 31.95x
Middlesex 7 1.63x
Devon 6 6.72x
Kent 4 2.73x
Somerset 3 4.34x
Hampshire 1 1.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwark St John in Surrey leads with 10 Gatters recorded in 1881 and an index of 763.36x.

Place Total Index
Southwark St John 10 763.36x
Poole St James 9 849.06x
Bromley London 5 52.97x
Ottery St Mary 5 847.46x
Newington 4 25.24x
Woolwich 4 73.94x
Fulham London 2 32.15x
Cossington 1 3333.33x
Holdenhurst 1 43.29x
Sowton 1 1666.67x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 178.57x
Weston Super Mare 1 57.47x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gatter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ellen 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Grace 2
Ada 1
Caroline 1
Elanor 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Jane 1
Martha 1
Millicent 1
Pauline 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gatter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 4
William 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Henry 2
George 1
Jno.B. 1
Jno.T.W. 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Gatter households.

FAQ

Gatter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gatter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Gatter surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gatter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016. That gives Gatter a modern rank of #29,049.

What does the Gatter surname mean?

A topographic German surname derived from the word "Gatter," meaning fence or enclosure.

What does the Gatter map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gatter bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.